Headmaster Dan White outlined for the IPA community the urgent need for a fence, separating the school from Wakea Street. When Foodland opens in August 2011, Wakea will also open to traffic. From the time road construction began, almost two years ago, it has not been entirely clear until recently just when final preparations would be completed and the road would open.

The construction of Foodland, and the final work on Wakea, began after the budget for 2010-11 was set. So, simply put, the school had no excess cash with which to build a fence, though with the increased traffic on the street one is urgently needed for the opening of school.

The new fence will be similar in appearance to the one currently enclosing the JK play area, and comes in eight-foot sections. Headmaster Dan White outlined the need to parents and students in mid-May, and offered the opportunity to “purchase” one or more of the fence sections at $500 each, which would have a donor acknowledgement plaque. $30,000 was the goal to complete the first two sections of the fencing, those most urgently needed.

Almost immediately, the Class of 2011 pledged part of its funds to be dedicated as a class gift to the fence. At first, they pledged four sections but soon raised that to six sections. Just as quickly, IPAPA, the IPA Parents Association, pledged $4000. Trustees were early donors for six sections and staff members followed with purchases of another six.

Then the parent response began. Nearly forty more families have bought single or multiple sections, and another thirty have participated in group efforts to buy a section. The $30,000 was reached and contributions continue to come in. The additional donations will enable the extension of the fence along the property line as soon as construction projects just across our boundaries are completed. The goal is to have the property completely contained by buildings, fence or other barriers.

White is understandably thrilled. “The students chant the ‘Whenever you Can, Help’ mantra with gusto, and love to be helpful themselves,” he observed. “For them to see their parents respond so quickly and so generously to a school need provides them with a great lesson in how a spirit of generosity can accomplish great things.”

Construction of the fence will commence during the summer months. Students returning in August should find their play space more secure and the perimeter of the campus play field contained.